Dispensing apparatus



Nov. 8, 1966 D. E. BURT 3,283,952

" DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1964 14 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N VENTOR '70 66 DomZoZE. Barb Nov. 8, 1966 D. E. BURT 3,283,952

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Mam/6% ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1966 D. E. BURT 3,283,952

DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1964 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 1 N VEN TOR DoncddEZBurZ Maw/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,283,952 DISPENSING APPARATUS Donald E. Burt, Boston, Mass., assignor to Keyes Fibre Company, Water-ville, Maine, a corporation of Maine Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 374,881 14 Claims. (Cl. 221-13) This is a continuation-in-part of copending and now abandoned application Serial No. 341,372, filed January 30, 1964.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus for separating articles from a stack of similar articles, and more particularly to apparatus for properly engaging the rim portions of dish-shaped articles to dispense them singly from a nested stack thereof.

The increasing centralization of many high volume packaging operations has resulted in the growth of large and expensive automated packaging lines in which large quantities of packages are filled with various products prior to localized distribution. Moreover, packages such as egg cartons and filler-flats, fruit trays, vegetable and berry boxes and the like are being formed of materials such as molded pulp because of its desirable resiliency combined with strength, as well as other characteristics such as easy disposability and low initial cost. Such packaging articles are conveniently shipped from the molded pulp or other manufacturer to the centralized roduct packager in nested stacks.

The problem of rapidly separating large quantities of nested articles individually from stacks to feed an automated packaging line is intensified by the roughened surfaces of many materials such as molded pulp. Such surfaces are desirable as a cushioning feature for packaging fragile articles. The inherent frictional resistance of the roughened sides of molded pulp and other articles, however, causes them to cling together in a stack, and forceable separation of one article from another is required.

Prior attempts to separate or de-nest articles of material such as molded pulp singly from a stack thereof have not proved entirely satisfactory. While these proposals frequently include mechanism which adequately strips the articles from the stack, they have failed to overcome the problem of the inherent warpage or distortion frequently encountered in molded pulp articles. For instance, dish-shaped articles may be nested fairly uniformly; however, when such articles include flanged rim portions at their outer margins, the rim portions are frequently warped or distorted to the point where they are not evenly spaced from one another, even though the dished portions of the articles are generally uniformly nested.' Consequently, prior de-nesting or dispensing apparatus encounters considerable difiiculty in properly engaging in the articles to be dispensed. Either the distorted rim of the article to be dispensed is missed entirely by the stripping mechanism, or the stripping mechanism engages the distorted rim of more articles than are desired to be dispensed. Such misalignment of the stripping mechanism with the flanged rim of the article to be dispensed not only causes malfunctioning and jamming of the dispensing apparatus, but results in considerable wastage due to torn or otherwise mutilated articles.

On the other hand, dished articles which do not include outward flanges at their rims are occasionally nested nonuniformly, which also results in the rim portions being in generally straight but not necessarily uniformly spaced longitudinal alignment.

Additionally, many prior dispensers are motivated by continuously operating rotary power sources such as electric motors driving rotary cam shafts. With such arrangements, it is difficult to stop the machine precisely 3,283,952 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 at the end of one cycle of dispensing motion to remove jammed articles unless expensive and delicate one-cycle clutches or other such arresting gear, frequently requiring accurate braking apparatus, are provided.

Finally, many proposals for improved dispensing apparatus are so proportioned that the new machinery is not readily adaptable to space requirements of an existing production line, and costly modifications are required in order to keep existing dispensers equipped with competitive operating components.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for dispensing articles from a stack of similar articles which are not necessarily uniformly spaced in the stack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dispensing mechanism including means for sensing the true position of articles to be dispensed from a stack and then engaging stripping means with such articles in accordance with such sensing, and cyclically motivating such mechanism from a common drive source including a to-and-fro powering device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dispensing apparatus driven from a common to-and-fro powering device wherein the actuating mechanism is confined to a minimum of space whereby such mechanism may be incorporated in existing dispensing machinery on established packaging lines.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the dispensing arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 1a is a side elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG, 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the actuating mechanism for the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing the parts half way through one cycle of operation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 with parts broken away for the purposes of clarity, showing the elements at the beginning of a cycle of operation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the elements at a mid-point in the cycle of operation;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the elements at another mid-point in the cycle of operation;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the elements at another mid-point in the cycle of operations;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the elements I at the half-way point of the cycle of operation;

FIG. 9 is a sectional plan view on line 9-9 of FIG. 4; FIG. 10 is a sectional plan view on line 10-10 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a sectional plan view on line 11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of the dispensing arrangement of this invention;

15 showing another step in the sequence of operation;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view showing details of the sensing finger repositioning cam;

FIG. 19 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 15 showing another step in the sequence of operation;

FIG. 20 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 15 showing another step in the sequence of operation;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevational view of the retaining finger support arm;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 2222 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the stack retaining finer support bracket;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevational view of the stripping finger supporting arm;

FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view of the stripping finger and its associated housing; FIG. 26 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional eleva tional view of the sensing finger support apparatus and its yieldable motivating device;

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate pivotal finger arrangement;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary descriptive view of another form of finger;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary descriptive view of another form of finger;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary descriptive view of another form of finger;

FIG. 31 is a semi-schematic view of one variety of article which may be dispensed with apparatus according to this invention; and

FIG. 32 is a semi-schematic view showing another variety of article which may be dispensed with apparatus according to this invention.

The dispensing machine of this invention comprises a housing for supporting a vertical stack of articles. Such a stack may comprise a plurality of nested molded pulp articles having central dished portions and often including marginal outwardly flanged rim portions. Frequently the rim portions of such articles are warped or distorted and the Vertical distance between the bottom of the dished portion and the outer extremity of the rim is irregular and not consistent from article to article. Thus, the rims may be in generally straight but not necessarily evenly spaced longitudinal alignment in such a stack.

The larger the lateral dimensions of the molded pulp articles, moreover, the greater the percentage of warpage which may be encountered. Thus, for large, flexible articles such as pocketed filler-flats for packaging large quantities of eggs in shipping cases, considerable irregularities of the rim portions are to be expected.

Consequently, dispensing machines according to this invention advisably include a plurality of dispensing units, such as the ones described below in full detail, positioned around the bottom of a vertical stack, each adapted to engage rim portions of filler-flats to be dispensed at spaced locations around their peripheries.

Referring in more particularity to the drawings, the first embodiment of the dispensing arrangement of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11. The ma-. chine comprises a main framework 12 including four generally vertical sides 14, 16, 18 and 20 joined at their vertical edges to form a generally rectangular housing 22 having open upper and lower ends. The rectangular housing 22 defines a vertical path for storage of articles arranged in a stack having a generally vertical axis. If desired, upper extensions may be associated with each side of the framework 12 such as the sheet metal wall portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 secured to the upper portion of the sides 14, 16, 18 and 20, respectively. These upper Wall extensions define an extension of the housing 22 to support an elongated vertically arranged stack.

A prime motivating arrangement 32 for driving the operating mechanism of the dispensing arrangement may comprise a reciprocable motor such as a polynoid 34 having an outer and an inner telescopically arranged member 36 and 38, respectively. The outer end of the member 36 is pivoted at 40 to a bracket 42 secured as at 44 to the framework 14. The outer end of the member 38 is secured as at 46 to a U shaped frame 48. The free ends of the legs 50 and 52 of the frame 48 are pivoted at 54, 56, respectively, to the upper portion of the framework 12. Linkage members 58 and 60 are pivoted at 62 and 64 to the mid-portion of the legs 50, 52 of the framework 48. The telescopic extension and retraction of motivator 34 under the influence of a suitable power source (not shown) produces upward and downward oscillation of the linkage members 58 and 60, as can be understood. By regulating the power source, the velocity of oscillation may be controlled to operate the dispensing apparatus at the desired cycle rate. The vari ous operating mechanisms of the dispensing apparatus described in detail below are driven through repeated cycles of coordinated motion by the common drive means 32.

The actual dispensing mechanism conveniently comprises four similar units, two located on one side 14 of the machine and the other two located on the opposite side 18 of the machine. Since all four are similar in structure and follow identical patterns of operation, it will be understood that the following detailed description of one unit 66 serves as a disclosure of all, and the operation of the entire machine will be clear from an explanation of the sequence of operation of the single unit 66.

The actuating mechanism 66 comprises a fixed upper member 68 and a fixed lower member 70 between which the actuating mechanism is mounted. A generally horizontal bar member 72 is mounted adjacent the upper member 68 for guided vertical travel upwardly and downwardly therebeneath. The bar 72 is biased to its upward position against the member 68 by a suitable spring load as at 74, and is power driven downwardly as at 76, as can be understood.

The dispensing mechanism comprises a first or main support means 78 including a retaining ledge portion 80 adapted to support the bottom portions 82 of dished articles 84 arranged in a nested stack. The articles 84 have outwardly flaring rim portions 86 arranged in generally straight but not necessarily evenly spaced longitudinal alignment. The main support 78 is secured to a vertically arranged operating shaft 88 mounted for limited rotary and axial motion between the members 70 and 72. The shaft 88 includes a radially extending follower pin 90 riding on the upper ramp of a fixed circular cam 92 to impart limited axial motion to the ledge portion 80 as the shaft 88 is rotated. A second radially extending follower pin 94 is positioned to ride in a helical cam groove 96 in a sleeve 98 (omitted for clarity in FIGS. 4-8) which is fixed at its upper end at 100 in the. shiftable operating member 72 to receive the upper end of the shaft 88 in telescopic fashion so that up and down reciprocation of the operating member 72 and the sleeve 98 imparts oscillatory motion to the shaft 88.

A sensing means 102 comprises a finger or ledge portion 104 adapted to engage the lower side of the rim portion 86 of the lowermost article in the stack. The sensing means 102 is rigidly attached to a vertically arranged operation shaft 105 mounted for limited axial and rotary motion between the members 70 and 72. A radially extending follower pin 106 is positioned to ride in a helical cam groove 108 in a sleeve member 110 fixed at its upper end at 112 to the operating member 72 to telescopically receive the upper portion of the shaft 105. A second radially extending follower pin 114 is positioned to ride on the upper ramp of a circular cam 116 secured to the upper surface of a retaining finger block 118, which loosely surrounds the shaft 105. Oscillatory motion of the shaft 105 imparted by relative vertical reciprocation of the helically grooved cam sleeve 110 results in limited vertical reciprocation caused by the pin 114 riding on the surface of the cam 116. Optionally, gravity may be assisted by providing a light spring load downwardly on the shaft 105 to insure engagement of the pin 114 with the cam 116.

The retaining finger block 118 slidably positioned on the shaft 105 is L shaped in plan view and contains a lateral slide member 120 including a retaining finger 122 and a cam follower roller 124. The slide member 120 is urged by a spring 126 to its rest position wherein the retaining finger 122 is retracted horizontally or laterally beyond the edge of the vertical stack. The retaining finger block 118 is rigidly attached to the bottom extremity of a stop shaft 128. The upper portion of the stop shaft 128 is slidably received through appropriate bores in the members 72 and 68, and includes a snap ring 130 above the fixed member 68 to limit downward travel of the retaining finger 122, as well as the sensing means 102 through the arrangement of the pin 114 and the cam 116 on the top of the retaining finger block.

A stripping finger block 132, which is also L shaped in plan view, contains a lateral slide member 134 which includes a stripping finger 136 as well as a roller cam follower 138. The slide member 134 is urged to a rest position by a spring 148 wherein the stripping finger 136 is retracted horizontaliy or laterally beyond the edge of the vertical stack. A guide shaft 142 is secured at its upper end to the bottom of the stripping finger block 132, and is mounted at its lower end for vertical sliding movement in a bore 144 in the member 78. Another operating shaft 146 offset from the guide shaft 142 is secure at its lower end to the stripping finger block 132 and is mounted for vertical sliding motion through a fixed block 148. An axially fixed snap ring 150 located on the shaft 146 below the fixed block 148 limits upward travel of the stripping finger block 132. A compression coil spring 152 acting between the fixed block 148 and the upper portion 154 of the operating shaft 146 creates a subservient or yieldable motivating force biasing upwardly the stripping finger block 132, the retaining finger block 118 which rides thereon, and the operating shaft 105 for the sensing finger mechanism 102.

To shift the lateral slide members 120 and 134 of the retaining finger block 118 and the stripping finger block 132, respectively, horizontally inwardly against their individual spring loads, a vertically reciprocating cam actuator is provided. A yoke member 156 taking the form of an inverted U includes an angled cam ramp 158 on one leg thereof and a similarly angled but vertically downwardly offset cam ramp 160 on the other leg thereof. The cam 158 is designed to shift the slide member 134 of the strippling finger block 132 forwardly when downward vertical motion of the yoke 156 causes contact with the roller follower 138. The other cam 160 is designed to shift the slide member 120 of the retaining finger block 118 forwardly when downward vertical motion of the yoke 156 causes contact with the roller follower 124.

A stop member 162 depending downwardly from the web or base portion of the yoke 156 is designed to contact the upper surface of the retaining finger block 118 during a predetermined portion of the operating cycle for a purpose described below. The yoke member 156 includes an upwardly extending operating shaft 164 fixed thereto. The shaft 164 is telescopically received at its upper end in a depending sleeve 166 which is fixed at 168 to the operating member 72. A compression coil spring 170 acts between the lower portion fo the lost motion connection sleeve 166 and the yoke 156 to bias the operating shaft 164 telescopically outwardly of the sleeve 166. A pin 172 extending diametrally through the sleeve 166 is positioned to ride in an axially extending transverse groove 174 in the shaft 164. The pin 1'72 and slot 174 limit outward telescopic motion of the shaft 164 relative to the sleeve 166 as well as inhibit relative rotary motion between the two to prevent misalignment of the cam yoke 156.

An abutment member 176 fixed to the lower side of the operating member 72 is positioned to engage the upper end 154 of the stripping finger operating shaft 146 midway of the downward travel of the operating member 72.

In operation of the FIGS. 111 embodiment, each downward and upward reciprocation of the operating member 72 drives the above described dispensing apparatus through one complete cycle of operation to dispense a single tray 84 from the bottom of the stack. Describing first the position of the operating mechanism at the beginning of a cycle, the stack retaining finger 122 and the stripping finger 136 are retracted laterally outwardly of the edge of the stack. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the ledge portion of the support means 78 is swung laterally inwardly of the edge of the stack and supports the bottom 82 of the dished portion of the lowermost article 84. Essentially the entire weight of the stack of articles is thus supported at the beginning of the operating cycle by the ledge portion 80. Finally, at the beginning of the operating cycle, the sensing means 102 is swung laterally inwardly of the edge of the stack to position its ledge portion 104 beneath the flared rim 86 of the lowermost article 84 in the stack. The sensing means 102 at this point is biased upwardly to contact the rim 86 of the lowermost article by means of the compression coil spring 152 acting from the fixed block 148 through the following mechanism: spring seat 154, operating shaft 146 and the stripping finger block 132 secured thereto, retaining finger block 118, cam 116 on the retaining finger block 118 and the follower pin 114, and operating shaft 105. This positions the retaining finger 122 and the stripping finger 136 longitudinally in proper positional relationship with the rim 86 of the lowermost article 84 in the stack. (In FIG. 2, these elements are shown at the upper limit of their possible longitudinal sensing motion with stop up against block 148; whereas, in FIGS. 4 and 5, they are shown at the lower limit of such possible motion with stop 130 down against member 68.)

As the operating member 72 begins its descent, the cam on the yoke 156 first engages the roller follower 124 of the lateral slide member 120 in the retaining finger block 118 to shift the retaining finger 122 laterally in-. wardly beyond the edge of the stack to be inserted between the rims of the lowermost article and the second article in the stack (FIG. 5). As this motion is completed, the cam 158 on the yoke 156 contacts the roller follower 138 of the lateral slide member 134 in the stripping finger block 132 to shift the stripping finger 136 laterally in-' wardly beyond the edge of the stack and also between the rims of the lowermost and the second article in the stack (FIG. 6).

As the stripping finger 136 is being shifted laterally inwardly, the downward motion of the sleeve 110 rotates the operating shaft 105 through the helical cam groove 108 and its associated pin 106 to swing the ledge 104 of the sensing mechanism 102 laterally outwardly beyond the edge of the stack. Additionally, the pin 114 on the operating shaft 105 rides down the ramp of the cam 116 to impart limited downward vertical travel to the ledge 104 as it swings out from beneath the rim 86 of the lowermost article in the stack. Before the stripping finger 136 has completed its inward lateral movement, and after the sensing finger 102 has begun its outward lateral movement, the ledge portion 80 of the main support 78 begins to be retracted. Downward motion of the sleeve 98 serves to rotate the operating shaft 88 by means of the helical cam groove 96 and its associated follower pin 94 to swing the ledge portion 80 laterally outwardly beyond the edge of the stack. Follower pin 90 also rides down the ramp of the fixed circular cam 92 to generate limited vertically downward travel of the ledge portion 80 to swing it downwardly as well as outwardly from beneath the dished portion 82 of the lowermost article in the stack.

When this motion is completed, the entire stack except the lowermost article is supported on the retaining finger 122. The lowermost article is usually frictionally held against falling by its nested dished portion. The weight of the stack on the retaining finger 122 causes the retaining finger block 118 to move downwardly to the limit of its travel as permitted by the snap ring 130 contacting the upper surface of the fixed member 68. The stripping finger block 132 also follows this movement because it is biased upwardly only by the sensing compression spring 152, which has insufficient power to support the full weight of the stack. As the retaining finger block 118 rides downwardly, of course, the laterally retracted sensing finger 102 also moves downwardly therewith by gravitational bias keeping the pin 114 resting on the upper surface of the cam 116.

When the ledge portion 80 of the support means 78 is fully retracted laterally out of the path of the article to be dispensed, the abutment 176 on the lower side of the operating member 72 contacts the upper end of the operating rod 146 which is thereafter driven downwardly with the operating member 72. Spring152 is compressed by this motion, and the stripping finger block 132 is shifted downwardly away from the retaining finger block 118 (FIG. 7). This causes the stripping finger 136 to separate the lowermost article in the stack from the bal-' ance of the stack supported on the retaining finger 122. Just after such stripping motion begins, abutment member 162 on the yoke 156 engages the upper surface of the retaining finger block 118 which, as mentioned above, is held against further downward travel by the snap ring 130 on the upper end of the operating shaft 128.

The final increment of downward travel of the operating member 72 thus imparts no further motion to the cam yoke 156, such lost motion connection being taken up by compression of the spring 170 and shifting of the pin 172 to the bottom of its cooperating slot 174. Thus, the final portion of the downward travel of the stripping finger block 132 serves to move the roller follower 138 downwardly relative to its now stopped cam 158 to permit the spring 140 to retract the stripping finger laterally outwardly beyond the edge of the stack (FIG. 8). Such retracting of the stripping finger as it undergoes its final increment of longitudinal stripping motion insures that articles are relesaed therefrom if, by chance, the finger had accidentally punctured or otherwise engaged the rim of the article being dispensed in a manner which caused the article to adhere to the finger.

After the operating member 72 has reached the bottom extent of its reciprocating travel (FIG. 3) and begins upward return motion, the foregoing sequence of operation is essentially reversed, and proceeds as follows. Spring 152 biases the stripping finger block 132 upwardly following the retraction of the abutment. member 176. This causes the roller follower 138 on the slide member 134 to engage the inclined ramp of still stationary cam 158 and again extend the stripping finger 136 laterally inwardly as it moves up. After the stripping finger 136 has been cammed inwardly, the lost motion connection between the pin 172 and the slot 174 is taken up to nullify the action of the spring 170, and the yoke 156 and its two associated cams thereafter move upwardly concurrently with the operating member 72. When the stripping finger block 132 has moved upwardly into contact with the lower surface of the retaining finger block 118 it is held in this position, and the abutment member 176 separates from the end 154 of the operating rod 146. The stripping finger block 132 is thus held at the lower extent of longitudinal sensing motion by the presence of the retaining finger block 118 which in turn is supporting the entire weight of the balance of the stack.

At this point, the main support means 78 has started to swing laterally inwardly beyond the edge of the stack through the action of the helical cam groove 96 and its associated pin 94. Next, the sensing finger mechanism 102 begins to swing laterally inwardly beyond the edge of the stack by coaction of the pin 106 with its ascending helical cam groove 108 while the inclined cam 158 on the yoke 156 begins to allow retraction laterally outwardly beyond the edge of the stack of the stripping finger 136. By the time the main support 78 and the sensing finger 102 have been oscillated fully to their inner position, the cam 158 has been elevated to the point where the stripping finger 136 is fully retracted laterally outwardly of the edge of the stack. As the main support 78 and the stripping finger 102 are rotated inwardly, of course, they are elevated slightly by their respective vertical cam arrangements 90, 92 and 114, 116. Finally, the last increment of upward retraction of the operating mechanism 72 withdraws the inclined cam 160 from the roller follower 124 allowing retraction laterally outwardly of the retain iug finger 122.

When the retaining finger 122 is retracted, the entire stack of articles 84 settles by gravity until the bottom 82 of the lowermost dished article contacts the ledge portion of the support means 78. At this point, the sensing finger 102, as well as the stripping finger 136 and the retaining finger 122 which follow it, are at the lower extent of their logitudinal sensing motion as defined by the snap ring resting on the member 68. If the flanged rim 86 of the new lowermost article in the stack is warped slightly upwardly beyond a mid-position, the action of sensing spring 152 generates upward sensing motion of the sensing finger 102 by means of the stripping finger block 132 and the retaining finger block 118. When the ledge portion 104 of the sensing finger 102 contacts the flanged rim of the lowermost article, such upward motion is stopped because, it will be remembered, the spring 152 has insufificient power to support the entire weight of the stack. This positions the retaining finger 122 and the stripping finger 136 longitudinally adjacent the rim of the lowermost article irrespective of distortion or warpage of such rim, because these two fingers have floated upwardly in fixed relation to the finger or ledge portion 104 of the sensing means 102. At this point, the entire cycle of operation is complete, the lowermost article of the stack having been stripped downwardly therefrom and the parts having repositioned themselves adjacent the flexible flanged rim of the new lowermost article preparatory to repeating the above cycle of operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-26, a modified version of the dispensing apparatus according to this invention is illustrated in detail. As best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the machine 210 includes a pair of opposed, generally vertical, main frame support plates 212 and 214. These plates are tied together by horizontal connecting rods 216 suitably secured at their extremities to the bottom corners of the plates 212 and 214. A pairof adjusting rods 218 are secured adjacent the upper corners of the plates 212 and 214. The upper rods 218 each include left-hand and right-hand thread portions, and are mounted for rotary motion in the frame plates 212 and 214. Each rod 218 includes a sprocket wheel 220 interconnected for concurrent rotary motion by a link chain 222. One of the rods 218 further includes a manual crank arrangement 224, rotation of which imparts concurrent rotary motion to the rods 218.

A pair of adjustable side frame plates 226 and 228 are mounted for concurrent lateral adjustment toward and from the centerline of a stack of articles to be dispensed. Each adjustable frame plate includes a pair of traveling nuts 230, 232, respectively, secured for rotary Vernier adjustment as at 234, 236, respectively, and threaded on the left-hand and right-hand threaded portions of the rods 218, respectively. Thus, it will be clear that rotary motion imparted to the adjusting rods 218 by the crank 224 causes inward and outward adjusting motion of the frame plates 226 and 228. Each adjustable frame plate 226, 228 further may include vertical guides 238 extending above the upper margin thereof to guide vertical downward travel of a stack of articles being dispensed.

Each frame plate 226, 228 is adapted to support at least one dispensing unit 240 by means of four fasteners 242 for easy removal. Each dispensing unit 240 is actuated by a common reciprocating drive arrangement. Such arrangement includes a fluid motor 244 having a cylinder 246 connected to the cross-bar 216 and a telescopically associated piston, the rod 248 of which is pivotally connected with a cross-bar 250. Pressurized fluid admitted to the motivator 244 through a connection 252 extends the bar 250 upwardly, and pressurized fluid admitted to the motivator through another connection 254 serves to retract the bar 250, as can be understood. Suitable valving arrangements incorporated in a standard hydraulic system may be employed to control velocity of recipro cation of the motivator 244.

The bar 250 slidably connects with the outer ends 256 of a pair of twin lever arrangements 258, each of which is pivoted at 260 to one of the laterally adjustable frame plates 226, 228. The other end of each lever 258 is pivotally connected as at 262 with a connecting link 264 which in turn is connected with an adjustable operating member 266. Each operating member 266 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory motion on a suitable guide rod 268 whereby extension and retraction of the motivator 244 imparts up and down shifting motion to the operating members 266. Each operating member 266 further includes a horizontal groove 270 adapted to engage a follower member 272 on a reciprocal portion of each dispensing unit 240 for operation thereof.

Each detachable unit 240 comprises a self-contained dispensing unit consisting primarily of a pair of side frame plates 274 and 276 connected together by a rear frame plate 278. The rear frame plate 278 includes an opening or Window 280 for a purpose described below, and the inner surface thereof serves as a backing support for a pair of cam bars, also explained below. The lower portion of the side frame plate 276 supports an adjustable stripping finger trip member 282 upon a suitable L bracket 284. The lower portion of the side frame plate 274 supports a cam block 286, the lower surface 288 of which is contoured to shift the sensing finger member to its lowermost limit of longitudinal travel in a manner described below. A pair of trunnion shafts 290 and 292 connect between the side frame plates 274 and 276 for mounting oscillating support members. A spring support 294 is secured to the upper portion of the side frame 276, and a spring support 296 is secured to the rear frame plate 278. Finally, a stop bar 298 connects between the forward portions of the side frame members 274 and 276. A pair of adjustable stop members horizontally threaded through the stop bar 298 serve to establish the innermost lateral position of arm support members, described below.

The basic framework of each dispenser unit described above further includes a series of shifting arms to control lateral and longitudinal motion of a plurality of finger means which serve to dispense articles singly from the end of a longitudinal stack thereof. A first arm or support 300 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the pivot shaft 290 and includes a mounting 302 for one end of a coiled tension spring 304 which is secured at its other end to the spring support 294 to bias the arm clockwise about the shaft 290, as viewed in FIG. 21. A cam follower 306 is adjustably threaded at 308 in the arm 300 to control counterclockwise oscillation of the arm about the shaft 290 in response to reciprocal motion of a cam operating member, described below. The arm 300 further includes a pair of spaced, aligned bores 310 therethrough which are concentric about a common vertical centerline.

The arm 300 further includes a support rod 312 slidably mounted in the aligned bores 310, and supporting a retaining finger bracket 314 on the lower end thereof. Longitudinally upward sliding of the rod 312 in the arm 300 is limited by the bracket 314, and downward shifting motion thereof is limited by a snap ring 316 secured to the shaft 312. Rotary motion of the shaft 312 in the bores 310 is precluded by a yoked collar 318 including a pair of feet 320 riding against the smooth inner surface of the arm 300.

The retaining finger bracket 314 includes an inwardly extending portion 322 and a cantilevered off-set portion 324 shaped to position a retaining finger 326 in proper positional relationship to a stack of articles. Thus, it will be clear that the retaining finger 326 is mounted for lateral shifting motion toward and away from a stack of articles by pivotal motion of the arm 300 about the fixed shaft 290, and the retaining finger 326 is also mounted for limited free longitudinal travel upwardly and downwardly of a stack of articles by sliding motion of the shaft 312 in the spaced, aligned bores 310 in the arm 300.

A second arm support 328 is also mounted for limited oscillatory motion on the cross pivot shaft 290. The arm 328 is generally similar in structure to the arm 300, and thus includes an adjustable cam follower portion 330 as well as a pair of spaced aligned bores 332, FIG. 24. A pin 334 connects with one end of a coil tension spring 336 which is attached at its other end to the spring connection 296 on the rear frame plate 278. Thus, clockwise motion of the arm 328 urged by the spring 336 is limited by the cam follower 330 engaging a cam described below, which in turn controls counterclockwise pivotal motion of the arm which is limited by engagement of the lower extremity of the arm with the cross-bar stop 298.

A slide rod 338 supports a stripping finger housing unit 340 at its lower extremity. The slide rod 338 is surrounded at its upper portion by a spacer sleeve 342 which in turn is received for sliding motion in the upppermost of the aligned bores 332. The sleeve 342 is fixed longitudinally relative to the slide rod 338 by means of a stop nut 344 and a yoked collar 346 which also precludes rotary motion of the stripper finger housing 340 about the longitudinal axis of the rod 338. A second sleeve 348 slidably received upon the lower portion of the rod 338 is mounted for sliding longitudinal travel in the lowermost of the aligned bores 332. An outwardly flanged shoulder 350 at the upper end of the sleeve 348 prevents downward travel of the sleeve beyond a predetermined limit in the arm 328. A compression coil spring 352 acting between the yoke collar 346 and the flange 350 of the lower sliding sleeve insures that the stripper finger housing 340 attached to the lower end of the shaft 348 is normally biased upwardly into contact with the lower end of the flanged sleeve 348. In this condition, the entire mechanism associated with the shaft 338 and its associated stripping finger housing 340 is capable of limited free longitudinal travel through the bores 332 in the arm 328 relative to a stack of articles to be dispensed. During such motion, the upper sleeve 342 and lower sleeve 348 travel with the shaft 338 as a unit, the compression coil spring 352 being entrapped and rendered ineffective.

It will be appreciated that downwardly directed forces applied to the upper extremity 354 of the shaft 338 will cause downward travel of the entire mechanism until the flange 350 of the lower sleeve 348 engages with the lower portion of the arm 328, and thereafter the shaft 338 and its associated sleeve 342 continue to travel downwardly relative to the now stopped sleeve 348, causing compression of the coil spring 352. This shifts the stripping finger housing 340 downwardly away from the arm 328. Thus, it will be clear that the stripping finger housing 340 is capable of lateral to-and-fro shifting motion relative to a stack of articles by swinging of the arm 328 about the shaft 290. The stripping finger housing 340 is also capable of limited free travel in a longitudinal direction by shifting of the sleeves 342 and 348 concurrently relative to the arm 328. Additionally, the stripping finger housing 340 may be shifted independently of the arm 328 in a longitudinal direction by forces applied to the upper extremity 354 of the shaft 348 with a resulting compression of the coil spring 352.

The stripping finger housing 340 comprises a stripping finger member 356 pivotally mounted therein. The stripping finger member 356 includes a detachable finger portion secured as at 358 to a pivoted support bracket 360. A pin 362 mounts the bracket 360 for pivotal motion in the stripping finger housing 340. A coil torsion spring 364 engaging the housing 340 at one end and engaging the bracket 360 at the other end normally biases the housing 360 counterclockwise until the forward or inner extremity of the support bracket 360 engages a downwardly directly edge portion 364 of the housing. The outer or rear portion of the bracket 360 includes a laterally extending tab 366 adapted to engage the abutment 282 secured to the side frame plate 276 to cause clockwise pivotal motion of the stripping finger bracket 360 and its finger 356 about the pin 362 relative to the housing 340 upon downward motion of the housing 340.

The housing 340 further includes a laterally extending tab 368 adapted to ride beneath the inwardly extending portion 322 of the retaining finger bracket 314, whereby the retaining finger 326 will follow the limited free longitudinal travel of the stripping finger housing 349. On the other side of the stripping finger housing 340, an elongated fiange 378 is adapted to ride upon a roller associated with the sensing finger apparatus, described below.

A third arm or support member 372 comprises a pair of elongated side members 374 pivoted at their upper end on the cross-shaft 292. The side members are secured to a central slide member 376 which includes a longitudinal bore 378 having stepped up shoulder recesses to receive a pair of sleeve bearings 380 at the upper and lower ends thereof. A lower abutment bracket 382 spans the lower extremities of the side members 374, and is longitudinally adjustably secured thereon by slotted fastener arrangements 384. The lower abutment member 382 includes a ledge support bracket 386 to which an inwardly extending ledge member 388 is adjustably secured as at 390. The ledge member 388 includes a portion 392 which is adapted to support the lower surfaces of dished portions of end articles in a stack of articles.

One of the side members 374 includes a fordwardly or inwardly extending cam follower bracket 394 extending through the window 280 which pivotally supports a follower roller 396 adapted to ride in a grooved cam, explained below. The bearing sleeves 380 support a guide shaft 398 for limited travel longitudinally of a stack of articles. The upper portion of the shaft 398 includes a spring seat portion 400, and the lower portion thereof includes an inwardly extending support 402. A compression coil spring 404 acts between the upper surface of the spacer member 376 and the spring support portion 400 of the shaft 398 to impart an upward bias thereto relative to the support arm 372. A stop pin 406 concentrically secured to the bottom portion of the shaft 398 is adapted to abut the spanner support 382 to limit downward travel of the shaft 398 compressing the spring 404. A longitudinal guide bracket 408 is secured as at 410 to the arm 402 to insure that the arm 402 is precluded from rotary motion about the axis of the shaft 398. The arm 402 further includes a roller 412 adapted to ride beneath the flange 370 of the stripping finger housing 340 as well as beneath the contoured lower surface 288 of the fixed cam member 286, for a purpose described below.

Secured as at 414 to the arm 402 is an inwardly directed bracket 416 which adjustably supports as at 418 a sensing finger member 420. The adjustable support for the sensing finger member 420 may include a longitudinal finger tip adjustment 422 to insure proper registry of the sensing finger 420 with the end articles in a stack relative to the stripping finger 356 and the stack retaining finger 326.

The above mentioned follower member 272 which coacts with the horizontal slot 270 of the operating member 266 includes a series of cam contours mounted for vertical or longitudinal reciprocation to actuate the above described operating members of the dispensing unit 240. A connecting arm 424 extends longitudinally to ride against the inner face of the rear frame member 278. A first cam 426 is positioned for longitudinally vertical travel adjacent the cam follower 386 of the first support are 300. A second cam 428 is positioned adjacent the cam follower 330 of the second support arm 328. These two cams are contoured to shift the arms 300, 328 laterally inwardly of a stack in a predetermined sequence upon downward reciprocation of the connecting arm 424.

A third cam arrangement includes a slot or grooved cam 430 engaging the roller follower 396 of the ledge support and sensing finger arm 372. The contours of the cam 430 are designed to swing the arm 372 laterally outwardly of a stack upon downward motion of the connecting arm 424.

Finally, an abutment shoulder 432 is positioned to engage the upper extremity 354 of the shaft 338 which supports the stripping finger housing 340. This comprises a lost motion connection which comes into engagement during the operating cycle to shift the stripping finger housing 340 downwardly against the bias of the coil spring 352 to drive the finger tilting tab 366 into engagement with the abutment 282, in a manner explained in more detail below.

In operation, the above described mechanism of FIGS. 1226 operates through a coordinated sequence of motion responsive to inward and outward reciprocation of the motivator 244. Describing first the position of the operating mechanism at the beginning of a cycle, as seen in FIG. 15 the stack retaining finger 326 is oscillated laterally outwardly of the stack by the coil tension spring 304 until the cam follower 306 engages the outer or base portion of the reciprocal cam 426. The stripping finger 356 is also shifted laterally outwardly of the stack by the tension spring 336 until the cam follower 330 of the arm 338 engages the outer or base portion of the cam 428. The sensing finger 420 mounted on the arm 372, and the ledge support member 392 also mounted on the arm 372, are shifted laterally inwardly of the stack by the follower 396 riding in the lower portion of the groove cam track 430. The ledge portion 392 which is longitudinally fixed relative to the rest of the dispensing unit 240 supports the lower dished portions 82 of articles 84 in the stack. The sensing finger 420 is in engagement with the lower or longitudinally outer surface of the rim portion 86 of the end article in the stack. The operating member 266 is at the uppermost limit of its reciprocating travel. With the parts in this position, the dispensing unit is ready to commence a cycle of operating motion which proceeds as follows.

First, as the operating member 266 drives the various cam contours downwardly, the rise portion of the cam 426 engaging the follower 306 shifts the arm 308 about its pivot 290 through a small degree of angular motion to impart laterally inward shifting motion to the stack retaining finger 326. As explained in more detail below, the stack retaining finger 326 has been properly positioned relative to'the article to be dispensed from the stack so that it engages between the flanged rim portions of the first and second articles in the stack, as can be seen in FIG. 16.

Next, the rise contour of the earn 428 engaging the follower 330 of the arm 328 imparts a small degree of angular motion thereto about the pivot 290 to shift the stripping finger 356 laterally inwardly of a stack. This finger also has been properly positioned in a manner described below by the sensing finger to engage between the flanged rims of the first and second articles in the stack. As the stripping finger 356 is being shifted laterally inwardly, the contoured portion of the grooved cam 430 begins to shift the sensing finger and ledge support arm 372 outwardly about the pivot 292, as seen in FIG. 17. 

1. AN ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM ONE END OF A STACK THEREOF, THE ARTICLES BEING OF THE TYPE HAVING LATERAL RIM PORTIONS, COMPRISING MEANS FOR HOLDING A LONGITUDINAL STACK OF SUCH ARTICLES WITH THEIR RIM PORTIONS IN GENERALLY STRAIGHT ALIGNMENT DEFINING AN EDGE OF THE STACK, DISPENSING MEANS CONNECTED TO REMOVE END ARTICLES INDIVIDUALLY FROM ONE END OF A STACK IN THE HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING A FINGER SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL AWAY FROM AND BACK TO THE END OF THE STACK TO EFFECT REMOVAL OF END ARTICLES AWAY FORM THE STACK, A STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SHIFTING LATERALLY INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END ARTICLES TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STACK, A STACK RETAINING MEMBER MOUNTED FOR SHIFTING LATERALLY INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH EDGE OF THE STACK TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE STACK FROM THE HOLDING MEANS WHEN END ARTICLES ARE BEING REMOVED THEREFORM, AND A STACK SUPPORT MEMBER MOUTED FOR SHIFTING LATERALLY INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH ARTICLES AT THE ONE END OF THE STACK TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE STACK FROM THE HOLDING MEANS WHEN THE STACK RETAINING MEMBER IS OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EDGE OF THE STACK, THE LATERAL SHIFTING OF THE STACK SUPPORT MEMBER INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT INCLUDING AN INCREMENT OF LONGITUDINAL MOTION TOWARD THE STACK, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO OPERATE THE DISPENSING MEANS THROUGH A CYCLE OF MOTION TO REMOVE END ARTICLES FROM THE ONE END OF THE STACK INCLUDING A PRIME MOTIVATOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF TELESCOPICALLY ASSOCIATED MEMBERS, AN OPERATING MEMBER MOUNTED FOR TOAND-FRO LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL RELATIVE TO THE STACK, MEANS ANCHORING ONE OF THE TELESCOPICALLY ASSOCIATED MEMBERS OF THE PRIME MOTIVATOR TO THE HOLDING MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER OF THE TELESCOPICALLY ASSOCIATED MEMBERS TO THE OPERATING MEMBER FOR DRIVING THE OPERATING MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY TO-AND-FRO FROM THE PRIME MOTIVATOR, A FRIST CAM MEMBER MOUNTED FROM LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL RELATIVE TO THE STACK TO CONTROL LATERAL SHIFTING OF THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER, A DIRECT MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FIRST CAM MEMBER AND THE OPERATING MEMBER TO ACUTATE THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER LATERALLY IN RESPONSE TO TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER, A SECOND CAM MEMBER MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL RELATIVE TO THE STACK TO CONTROL LATERAL SHIFTING OF THE STACK RETAINING MEMBER, A DIRECT MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SECOND CAM MEMBER AND THE OPERATING MEMBER TO ACTUATE THE STACK RETATING MEMBER LATERALLY IN RESPONSE TO TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER, A THIRD CAM MEMBER MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL RELATIVE TO THE STACK TO CONTROL LATERAL SHIFTING OF THE STACK SUPPORT MEMBER, A DIRECT MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THIRD CAM MEMBER AND THE OPERATING MEMBER TO ACTUATE THE STACK SUPPORT MEMBER LATERALLY IN RESPONSE TO TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER, A LOST MOTION CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FINGER SUPPORT MEMBER AND THE OPERATING MEMBER TO ACTUATE INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL OF THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO ONLY A PORTION OF THE TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER, MEANS CONNECTED TO IMPART TO THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER AN INCREMENT OF LATERAL SHIFTING OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH END ARTICLES REMOVED FROM THE STACK IN ADDITION TO THE AFORESAID SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARTICLES TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STACK, THE DRIVE MEMANS BEING CONNECTED TO SHIFT THE STACK RETAINING MEMBER AND THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER LATERALLY INTO AND THE STACK SUPPORT MEMBER LATERALLY OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT DURING A FIRST PORTION OF THE TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION BEFORE THE LOST MOTION CONNECTION IS ESTABLISHED, TO GENERATE INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL OF THE FINGER SUPPORT MEMBER AWAY FROM THE END OF THE STACK DURING A LATER PORTION OF THE TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER IN THE ONE DIRECTION WHILE THE LOST MOTION CONNECTION IN ESTABLISHED, AND TO IMPART TO THE STRIPPING FINGER MEMBER THE INCREMENT OF LATERAL OUTWARD SHIFTING NEAR THE TERMINUS OF THE INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL TRAVEL OF THE FINGER SUPPORT MEMBER AWAY FROM THE STACK DURING A FINAL PORTION OF THE TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER IN THE ONE DIRECTION, AND TO CONTROL REPOSITIONING OF THE DISPENSING MEANS DURING TRAVEL OF THE OPERATING MEMBER BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO COMPLETE AN ARTICLE DISPENSING CYCLE. 